Sen. Paul Bettencourt

Maddy summarySB 1539 amends Texas election law to clarify procedures when a contest is filed over a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment. It requires the governor to delay declaring the official election result until the contest is resolved, and mandates that the court’s final judgment must direct the governor to declare the election valid or void within 10 days. These changes apply to contests filed on or after September 1, 2025, while older contests follow prior law. The bill directly affects election officials, courts, and voters involved in constitutional amendment contests.

Maddy summarySB 987 clarifies that criminal trial courts in Texas may exercise jurisdiction over certain criminal cases without requiring plaintiffs to first exhaust civil or administrative remedies. This change directly affects criminal courts, prosecutors, and defendants in cases where civil remedies might otherwise delay criminal proceedings. The bill explicitly adds language to state law stating that such civil remedy exhaustion is not a prerequisite for criminal jurisdiction. It applies to all criminal actions filed before, on, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. The law modifies existing jurisdictional rules to streamline criminal case processing.

Maddy summarySB 2722 restricts how large Texas counties (population 4 million+) can use revenue from tolls and charges on toll projects. It requires counties to spend toll revenue only on operating, maintaining, or retiring debt for toll systems, then mandates that leftover funds be distributed: 30% to municipalities with significant toll lanes for emergency services, and 70% to county roads with specific allocation rules. The bill also authorizes administrative penalties (100-110% of misused funds) for violations and bars counties that violate the law twice from increasing property tax rates above their no-new-revenue limit the following year. This directly affects counties like Harris (Houston) and their municipalities, ensuring toll revenue funds transportation infrastructure rather than general budgets.

Maddy summarySB 2017 would create a new Class C misdemeanor offense for drivers who intentionally accelerate to cause a vehicle tire to spin, lose traction, or leave the highway surface. It specifically prohibits operators from intentionally breaking traction by pressing the accelerator to spin tires or accelerating in a way that makes tires lose contact with the road. This law would directly affect drivers engaging in such deliberate maneuvers, making it a punishable offense starting September 1, 2025. The bill does not address accidental loss of traction or apply to stationary vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 2639) modifies Texas law to change how cities with populations over 950,000 can designate properties as historic landmarks or include them in historic districts. It requires property owner consent for designation, unless the city follows a specific process: providing a detailed impact statement (listing costs, tax benefits, and repair requirements) and making a written compensation offer to the owner if they object. If the owner rejects the offer, the city can seek court approval to proceed, with a judge appointing commissioners to assess damages. The law directly affects property owners in large Texas cities and aims to balance historic preservation with property rights.

Maddy summarySJR 85 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase Texas school district property tax exemptions for elderly or disabled homeowners. Currently, the exemption for these residents is $10,000; this bill would raise it to $60,000 of a home's market value. The amendment would allow the legislature to adjust this exemption amount, with provisions ensuring eligible individuals (65+ or disabled) cannot receive both the basic exemption and this enhanced benefit. It directly affects Texas homeowners aged 65 or older or with disabilities who own their primary residence. The bill requires voter approval after legislative passage to take effect.

Maddy summarySB 988 increases criminal penalties for damaging motor fuel pumps or electric vehicle charging stations in Texas. The bill amends the Penal Code to upgrade offenses involving these specific infrastructure points to higher felony classifications (like state jail felony or third-degree felony) when damage exceeds certain financial thresholds or causes significant disruption. It directly affects individuals who intentionally impair or damage these public utility systems, making such acts punishable by more severe criminal charges. The law focuses on protecting critical transportation infrastructure by raising the legal consequences for damaging fuel pumps or EV charging stations.

Maddy summarySB 2529 requires local taxing units (like cities, school districts, or water districts) to obtain a supermajority vote from their governing body before adopting tax rates exceeding voter-approved limits or issuing certain bonds. Specifically, it mandates at least 60% approval for general obligation bonds and 75% approval for tax rates that exceed previously rejected voter-approved rates. The bill applies when a taxing unit seeks to raise taxes above the rate voters previously rejected in an election. This policy change directly affects local government decision-making on tax increases and bond issuances.

Maddy summarySJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the homestead exemption for school district property taxes in Texas from $100,000 to $140,000. This change would directly reduce the taxable value of a primary residence for school taxes, lowering property tax bills for homeowners. The amendment requires voter approval in a November 2025 election to take effect for the 2025 tax year. If passed, it would provide an additional $40,000 in tax relief on primary homes for school funding purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 3709 requires election officials to manually verify results from electronic voting systems in a random sample of precincts to ensure accuracy. It mandates counting at least 1% of precincts (or three precincts, whichever is greater) within 72 hours of polls closing, with results completed by the 21st day after election day. The Secretary of State selects which specific races (up to three offices or propositions) are verified in those precincts and must notify officials after election day. This applies to state/county elections, primary elections, and constitutional amendments, with details posted online for public access. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.